Love this club

A-League preview 2010/11: Gold Coast United

The glitter strip club have stabilised well going into their sophomore year.

No enormous losses and a few smart ins after a third-placed finish will have Gold Coast United right in and about the top few teams in 2010/11.

A few weeks ago, this would have been completely different as star striker Shane Smeltz was set to join Chinese club Shandong Luneng, but he decided to renege on that contract and is now back on the Gold Coast preparing for another A-League season.

If he was to leave, a large chunk of scoring power would have left the club, placing coach Miron Bleiberg in a tough position with a desperate need to sign a new striker so close to the season but it seems to have worked out well and Smeltz will be there on the frontline, working hard as usual.

Former Manchester United defender John Curtis is a solid signing and will add extra depth to a back third already containing Michael Thwaite, Bas van den Brink and Kristian Rees. Curtis' signing may allow Thwaite to play a more advanced role as he did towards the end of last season.

Add to that marquee midfielder and Australian international Jason Culina and once again you have a very formidable outfit capable of featuring in the finals.